I gave a reading last night at a gallery in Manhattan!

[HamdenRice]

Ask me anything.

(If anybody ever reads here or more importantly, gives a shit!)

[Orrex]

1. Very cool--congrats!

Was it your own work? What format?

(I'd ask more specific questions, but I don't want to compromise your privacy or confidentiality.)



Congratulations in any case, because that's a really cool distinction!

[HamdenRice]

3. It was a short story I wrote

I'm working on a collection of short stories about three families -- two African American and one Irish American -- that starts in post 9/11 New York, and traces their lives backwards to 1968.

The story I read was a very condensed version of the first chapter, which is about an Irish American real estate agent trying to sell a house in Queens as the real estate bubble ends, while battling some internal demons.

It was interesting to take a 30 page story and condense it to about 8 pages. It helped me realize what the essence of the story really was. But I'll keep the long version for the collection.

I participate in a "salon" made up mostly of alumni of certain writing workshops in Brooklyn and Manhattan and some people in publishing. It is held in different places -- art studios, a gallery or someone's living room.

So it was finally my turn. They seemed to really like the story.

[sybylla]

2. Sounds completely intimidating - how is it you sound over the moon?

Congrats! That's a fine thing to be a part of and a great milestone in a writing career. :applause:

[HamdenRice]

4. I have been a lecturer on and off over the years ...

so public speaking doesn't bother me. But whether people would like the story was scary until it was over.